Not all plants are created equal… and some are truly living works of art!
Meet this beautiful orchid in full blooming elegance in our Paris office. Each plant we integrate tells a story of craftsmanship, sustainability, and botanical expertise.
Experience how our botanical expertise brings nature into architectural spaces.
In March, Mingzhu Nerval carried out the annual maintenance of the Mâcon green wall, an urban artwork inspired by graffiti that blends graphic lines with wild nature.
This March, we returned to Mâcon for the annual maintenance of our vertical garden—an installation that brings together our love for urban art and wild, living landscapes.
Graffiti has long been a source of inspiration at Mingzhu Nerval. We are drawn to its visual lines and bold graphics. Like graffiti, our vertical gardens are murals—urban artworks. And like graffiti, they are wild in spirit: unconfined, expressive, and deeply rooted in place.
The Mâcon green wall, located on Place aux Herbes, is a living canvas where each plant contributes to a graphic composition reminiscent of street art. At the same time, it supports local biodiversity and rewilds an urban space with texture, movement, and life.
We believe that gardens—like great art—should be alive, bold, and public. The Mâcon installation is a perfect example of how we merge sustainable botanical design with expressive, site-specific artistry to bring wild beauty into cities.
Discover how Mingzhu Nerval merges artistic vision with sustainable green wall design. Explore our Expertise Page
Kenting National Park, located at Taiwan’s southernmost tropical tip, is a breathtaking haven of biodiversity, boasting vibrant ecosystems with a rich variety of flora and fauna. However, this natural paradise faces significant threats from invasive species, which locals have aptly nicknamed the “green cancer.” These non-native plants and animals disrupt the park’s delicate ecological balance by outcompeting native species and damaging habitats.
One such invasive species is the River tamarind (Leucaena leucocephala) considered one of the 100 worst invasive species by the Invasive Species Specialist Group of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
The plant was first introduced to Taiwan to make paper. However, this fast growing plant expanded quickly and forms dense thickets that crowd out all native vegetation and disrupt the parks’s delicate ecological balance.
In response, local government and dedicated community volunteers have initiated efforts to manage the spread of river tamarind groves in Kenting National Park. These fast-growing plants are regularly removed, focusing on cutting them down in their juvenile stages to prevent further dissemination. However, dealing with the aftermath presents a unique challenge: the thin trunks and twigs of the removed plants offer limited opportunities for reuse.
As part of the creation of the Hengchun Botany Academy Garden, Mingzhu Nerval collaborates with local environmentalists and carpenters to design an innovative garden structure that incorporates the river tamarind’s twigs. This creative initiative not only addresses the environmental challenge posed by these fast-growing plants but also explores exciting possibilities for upcycling. By transforming what was once a problem into a sustainable solution, the project highlights community collaboration and eco-friendly practices. It’s a beautiful step forward in showcasing how even nature’s challenges can inspire meaningful change.
The twigs have been put to creative use, forming a garden shade structure that will provide shelter for the future outdoor classroom. They’ve also been repurposed as decorative elements on a blank wall, adding a touch of natural charm. To top it off, the twigs have been crafted into an “insect hotel,” offering a cozy habitat for local bees and butterflies to thrive. This craftsmanship and artful expression give new life from a environmental crisis.
While the planting installation is still on its way, the space has already been transformed and looks so much better. We’re loving the interplay of light and shade created by the filtered sunlight—it brings such a serene and inviting atmosphere. The anticipation for the planting to arrive and complete the garden is growing, and we can’t wait to see the final vision come to life!
Chih-Wei (landscape architect)took an inspiring step further by organizing workshops that brought local carpenters together with teachers and students. These sessions not only served as a platform to preserve and pass down traditional craftsmanship but also nurtured a stronger sense of responsibility and connection to the future garden. This collaborative effort beautifully bridges generations and fosters a deeper appreciation for the space they are creating together.
By transforming what was once a problem into a sustainable solution, the project highlights the power of ingenuity and community collaboration in promoting eco-friendly practices. It’s a beautiful step forward in showcasing how even nature’s challenges can inspire meaningful change.
Through innovative reuse of invasive river tamarind, Mingzhu Nerval demonstrates how sustainable garden design can foster biodiversity and community engagement.
Twelve years ago, Mingzhu Nerval brought Solvay-Rhodia’s vertical garden to life—and today, it continues to thrive with even more character and grace.
As a birthday gift, the wall received a soft, delicate maintenance session from our greenest hands—Garden Master Susan—who gently pruned the lush Blechnum ferns, allowing the garden to breathe and flourish even more.
Gazing at the huge, flowing fronds of these wild ferns brings back beautiful memories of our early days, when we traveled across China, passionately collecting seeds and nurturing our young company’s vision.
Our gardens aren’t static—they are living, evolving works of art. This 12-year-old vertical garden is proof that Mingzhu Nerval’s green installations not only endure but grow richer, more textured, and more beautiful with time.
Stay close to them… and you’ll uncover their secrets.
Explore how our vertical gardens evolve into living legacies through expert maintenance and timeless botanical design. Visit our Expertise Page
In 2024, Mingzhu Nerval partnered with LOEWE to create a unique garden in Chengdu that reflects both brands’ commitment to artistry and nature. This collaboration resulted in a serene space where carefully selected plants and thoughtful design come together to offer visitors a tranquil retreat.
The garden features a harmonious blend of native flora and sculptural elements, creating an immersive experience that engages the senses. Each plant was chosen for its aesthetic appeal and adaptability, ensuring the garden remains vibrant throughout the seasons.
This project exemplifies how thoughtful landscape design can enhance retail environments, offering customers a moment of calm amidst the bustling city.
This collaboration between Mingzhu Nerval and LOEWE showcases botanical artistry in luxury garden design, enhancing the retail landscape with biophilic elements.
Discover how Mingzhu Nerval transforms retail spaces into lush, nature-inspired environments. Learn more on our Expertise Page.
Design Conversations Over Breakfast
We were thrilled to welcome Chih-Wei G.V. Chang, an award-winning landscape architect and environmental researcher, to our upcoming Paris showroom for a dynamic morning workshop.
Though the space is still under construction, it already holds the energy of ideas in motion. Alongside Mingzhu and Antoine, we explored topics ranging from ecological corridors and urban greening, to the role of vertical gardens in shaping low-carbon architecture and the cities of tomorrow.
This collaboration bridges visionary landscape architecture and botanical engineering, aligning Mingzhu Nerval with global leaders in sustainable landscape design.
The opening of our Paris space marks a new chapter—a green hub for high-level design innovation, cross-disciplinary exchange, and creative experimentation.
Follow our journey as we build Paris’s next botanical design hub. Explore our Expertise to see how collaboration drives innovation.
The Quiet Joy of New Ferns
Every time a new fern unfurls, it feels like watching nature breathe.
These fresh fronds—soft, spiraling, and filled with life—are not only botanical marvels but also gentle reminders of nature’s rhythm and resilience.
At Mingzhu Nerval, we observe these quiet moments with deep attention. The delicate structure of each fern frond inspires our vertical garden compositions, adding softness, texture, and movement to biophilic environments.
These small miracles of growth guide our greenhouse plant cultivation and nature-inspired design, reminding us to build spaces that celebrate not only grand beauty, but also the poetry found in each emerging leaf.
Through rare ferns, careful species selection, and a passion for botanical detail, we transform living walls into landscapes that whisper serenity and renewal.
To us, this is a symbol of the freshness of nature… We can’t stop looking at them in enchantment.
Discover how we transform small botanical moments—like the unfurling of a fern—into immersive, living landscapes. Learn more on our Expertise Page.
This week, Francesca Cosmai, Mingzhu Nerval’s partner landscape architect, was in Paris for an intensive week of creative work and client meetings.
Francesca lives and works mostly from a stone house nestled in a tiny village in the Italian Alps, facing sharp peaks and snow-capped mountains. Her remote studio, surrounded by nature, offers the perfect setting for reflection and botanical inspiration.
Learn how our collaborations bring architecture and greenery together. Explore our Expertise.
Innovating in green art and Technology: Mingzhu Nerval’s Collaboration with the China Academy of Art
2024-09-09
Each year, the China Academy of Art (中国美术学院) invites Mingzhu Nerval to lead a back-to-school seminar with their first-year students.
In 2024, around fifty students participated in a week-long, full-time workshop exploring the theme “Art and Technology”, applied directly to real-time Mingzhu Nerval projects.
This edition highlighted Franco-Chinese collaboration, co-led by professors from the École de Design de Nantes, making the exchange even richer in vision and innovation.
Learn how Mingzhu Nerval transforms these innovative ideas into bespoke vertical gardens. Explore our Projects
Late spring (June) is the perfect time to admire the beauty of the mountains.
The temperatures are still fresh, thanks to the altitude, and the leaves remain a vivid, tender green. Shades of green unfold everywhere, intense and endless in their variety.
Today, we took a walk through the Vosges mountains, breathing in the cool air and soaking in the richness of the landscape.
It’s in these moments that we gather fresh inspiration—new ideas to bring even more life and depth to our future vertical gardens and botanical designs.
Let nature’s colors inspire your next living masterpiece. Discover our Botanical Creations
At Mingzhu Nerval, our love for plants is matched by our affection for animals, especially cats. Our studios and gardens are often shared with feline companions, who lounge peacefully among the leaves, embodying the calm and curiosity we strive to cultivate in our work.
Cats, with their quiet presence and natural grace, mirror the qualities we admire in nature. As plant-based founders deeply committed to environmental stewardship, we believe that true beauty lies in harmony,not just between architecture and greenery, but also among all living beings.
Our biophilic designs are always created with care, using non-toxic plants and thoughtful layouts that respect both human and animal wellness. We see pets as part of the ecosystem of a home or office and their comfort matters as much as their human companions.
Mingzhu Nerval’s work reflects a holistic philosophy: nature is not a trend, but a way of life. Every garden we create is a tribute to the intelligence, serenity, and interconnectedness of the natural world.
Our pet-friendly vertical gardens are designed with non-toxic plants and natural flow, reflecting our deep respect for all of Mother Nature’s creations.
Discover how our botanical expertise and love for all living beings inspire harmonious, sustainable landscapes. Explore our Expertise Page
This morning, our gardening team had the joy of discovering a nest of baby birds hidden deep within one of our vertical gardens—an uplifting reminder of how much life our work supports.
This green wall, created in 2014 for the Shanghai municipality, demonstrates Mingzhu Nerval’s expertise in sustainable green wall design and long-term maintenance. Over the past decade, it has matured into a lush, thriving façade with foliage 1.5 meters thick and trees reaching up to 8 meters tall.
Its dense canopy now provides a natural refuge for urban wildlife, including these baby birds who found a peaceful place to grow. It’s more than a green wall—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem in the city’s heart.
Explore how our vertical gardens bring beauty, biodiversity, and long-term value to urban spaces. Discover our Projects